Lakers can’t finish Wizards as Pau Gasol tries not to think about contract

WASHINGTON >> The Lakers didn’t wait until this offseason to extend Kobe Bryant to a two-year, $48.5 million extension.

How about Pau Gasol?

“We have not had any discussions with Pau,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Tuesday in a conference call. “I’m sure I will. Where that leads, I’m not sure right now. A lot has to do with different variables.”

Gasol, who is earning $19 million in the final year of his contract this season with the Lakers, anticipated a breakout season with improved health in his knees and a post left vacant by Dwight Howard’s departure. Pending returns to Bryant (left Achilles tendon) and Steve Nash (back) also thrust Gasol into a larger leadership role.

But as the Lakers’ 116-111 loss Tuesday to the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center indicated, neither Gasol nor really anyone else has taken that mantle. Gasol’s 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting, six rebounds and eight assists marked one of many of the Lakers’ contributions. That included Jordan Farmar (22 points), Nick Young (16 points), Steve Blake (15 points), Wes Johnson (11 points) and Jordan Hill (10 points). But that wasn’t enough for the Lakers (7-8) to drop to 1-5 on the road.

Gasol’s production also featured him playing shaky defense. He collected four fouls and committed five turnovers.

“I’m just focused on trying to play as well as I can,” Gasol said, “and finishing the season as good as I can so I’m in as best a position as possible for next year.”

Gasol has shot above 50 percent in his past three games with the Lakers, but he has averaged only 14.5 points on 43 percent shooting and 10.3 rebounds. Gasol offered public congratulations toward Bryant for his extension and called him “the face of the Lakers.” But with Bryant remaining the NBA’s highest player through the 2015-16 season, Gasol conceded in a roundabout way he may have to take a pay cut to stay here.

“Generally speaking, I think we all at some point have to make sacrifices,” Gasol said. “I don’t know what my situation is going to be or what the team’s interest is moving forward. That hasn’t been expressed to me as much as I’m sure it’s been expressed to him and shown to him at this point. I’m just going to focus to continue to play and try to expand my game. That’s what’s going to help me.”

Gasol didn’t provide much of a defensive solution against Washington. The Lakers allowed Wizards forward Nene to score a career-high 30 points on 13 of 22 shooting while the Wizards posted 56 points in the lane. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni also attributed the team’s poor consistency on pick-and-roll defense in contributing to Wizards guard John Wall dropping 31 points on a 10-of-18 clip.

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“I didn’t think we were gritty,” D’Antoni said. “We just didn’t move with the same authority we have been. It happens. We’ll get back on it and try to do a better job the next time.”

Gasol wasn’t the lone contributor to the Lakers’ loss.

The Lakers committed 19 turnovers, including two from Blake that entailed a shot clock violation and a deflected pass toward Farmar on consecutive possessions in the final minute. Blake shook his head and stared down the floor in frustration.

“I was disappointed,” Blake said. “I made a mistake. I have to move on. But I was just disappointed.”

Gasol converted on a three-point play that cut the Lakers’ deficit to 113-110 with 24.5 seconds remaining. But after Nene made one of two free throws, Young missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with 14.3 seconds left. Gasol then missed a wide-open layup before time expired.

“We don’t have one thing we go to all the time,” D’Antoni said. “They’re playing hard and together, but we should’ve won tonight.”

With the Lakers heading into tonight’s game against Brooklyn with an 0-3 record on the second night of back-to-backs, Gasol hasn’t become that player to lead the way.

“We have to stay aggressive and stay hungry,” Gasol said. “If we win these next two games, it’ll be a big sign of confidence and performance for us.”